Disease Resistance:

Symbols Explained

Organic Seeds, Plants, and Supplies

Plants, or seeds harvested from plants, that have been grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, strictly adhering to the USDA's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) organic gardening practices are designated as Organic.

For supplies, such as fertilizers and pest and disease controls, the OG symbol identifies products that meet the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) rules according to a third-party authority such as OMRI, WSDA, and/or a local authority such as MOFGA or NOFA.

Quick Facts

Latin Name: Allium cepa

Days to Maturity or Bloom:
100

Product Symbols:

Shipping Information & Notes

Growing Information

Onions

CULTURE: Onions require a fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Sandy loam soils are ideal, but raised beds or raised rows are recommended for heavier soils to promote soil drainage. Full sun is required for optimal growth.DIRECT SEEDING: In April or early May, or as soon as the soil can be prepared in early spring, sow in a 2" wide band, about 2 seeds/in., 1/4- 1/2" deep, rows 12-18" apart. Thin to 1 1/2-2" apart for highest yields in fertile soil. Thin to 3-4" apart for larger onions and 4" apart for the "sweet mild" type.TRANSPLANTING: For varieties of the "sweet mild" class, and for the storage type in extremely short-season areas, sow seeds indoors in flats in late February to mid-March. Broadcast 1/2" apart and cover 1/4". Tops may be clipped to 5" tall. Transplant to the garden 4" apart, or sow 5 seeds in each cell of 1-1 1/2" diameter plug trays, thinning to 3 per cell. Transplant each cell 6" apart.CULTIVATION: Keep onions well weeded with shallow cultivation.WATER: Onions are shallow rooted and grow best with at least an inch per week of rain or irrigation.DISEASES: Set-grown onions are more prone to disease than seed-grown onions. If you grow from both sets and seeds, plant in different locations to help avoid any disease spreading to the seed-grown crop.HARVEST: When onions have begun to develop skins and tops are falling over, pull and sun-cure at least a week before removing tops.STORAGE: When dry, clip off tops and store in onion bags or shallow boxes at near freezing and 65-70% humidity.DAY LENGTH: Onion varieties differ in the length of day required to make a bulb. Those requiring fewer daylight hours are grown in the South where the daylight period during summer is shorter than in the North. Most of our varieties are of the "medium" or "long-day" type, and if they are grown in the South, the days there are too short to initiate good bulb development. Refer to "Adaptation" in each variety description for details.DAYS TO MATURITY: From direct seeding; subtract 10-15 days if transplants are used.AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE: 325'/oz., 1M/50', 5M/250', 25M/1,250', 580M/acre @ 20 seeds/ft., in rows 18" apart.TRANSPLANTS: Avg. 4,900 plants/oz., 78,750/lb.SIZED SEEDS: Standard on all varieties.SEED SPECS: SEEDS/LB.: 95,000-125,000 (avg. 105,000).PACKET: 250 seeds sows 12' or makes 140 plants.